THE VALE COURSE 2026

The VALE Course 2026 is a transformative leadership training for 22 rising stars in the nonprofit sector.

Thanks to the generous support of Erasmus+ and Youth For Understanding Norway, we're ready to equip a new generation with the vision, resilience, and tools to lead with impact.

The call for participant applications is closed

Until 10 OCT we will review, conduct interviews, and select. Stay tuned.

READ THE CALL

The Idea

The VALE Course 2026 is a transformative 3-month leadership journey for 22 international youth workers and change makers navigating the challenges of remote leadership.

This unique experience includes two immersive in-person modules. Module 1 will take place in Czechia and Module 2 in the remote Arctic surroundings of Northern Norway - interwoven with a one-month virtual challenge-based phase.

We invite you to join us on a powerful learning adventure that will deepen your leadership practice, sharpen your skills, and reconnect you with the values that drive your work in youth organisations.

This isn’t just another training - it’s a space to grow, reflect, and lead with clarity across borders, screens, and distance. Whether you’re heading virtual teams or supporting young people in rural communities, this course is designed to help you lead with purpose, wherever you are.

Ready to grow into the leader your community needs? We hope you have applied for the Course 2026 - we will soon select the participants of this year's edition. If this was not the right year for you, however, perhaps it has sparked joy for the future, so why not follow our social media and stay tuned for upcoming opportunities?

Advanced leadership training

- By Youth for Youth

The Timeline

And we're back! This time, The VALE 2026 will be two leadership retreat modules in Czechia and Norway.

Confirmation of participation

We will let all selected participants know of their selection by end of September and aim to have financial matters settled by October 2025.

Preparatory tasks

To kickstart the course, we will engage participants with mandatory preparatory tasks reflecting on ideas of leadership during the month of December 2025 leading up to the first module.

Module 1 // 7-11 JAN 2026

We will meet in Czechia for an intensive and immersive leadership experience that will challenge participants to re-examine the way they see themselves and the world.

Experimential module

To reinforce learnings, it's time to experiment: try out newly acquired skills at studies, work, and volunteering commitments.

Module 2 // 23 FEB-1 MAR 2026

We will meet in Norway to continue our journey together, having gained valuable insights while experimenting.

The follow-up period

Becoming a part of the alumni network and following up on individual action plans for continuous learning.

The Participants

22 young people ready to level up their leadership skills

The target group of The VALE Course 2026 is young volunteer leaders representing a youth organisation. The course strives to have a diverse applicant pool and to have a balanced group of participants in terms of gender, background, and experience.

Please look out for the call for participants for more information, including detailed information about the financial matters.